Heat generator



July 20, 1954 w. H. HARMS ET A1. 2,583,957

HEAT GENERATOR Filed June 25, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l im f2 EL L 'l July20, 1954 w. H. HARMs ET A1.

HEAT GENERATOR l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1948 Patented July 20,1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT GENERATOR Walter H. Harms, SanFernando, and Donovan E. Schowalter, Upland, Calif.

Application June 25, 1948, Serial No. 35,084

(Cl. L7- 2) 4 Claims. l

This invention Vis concerned with va heat generator and it is ageneralobject of the invention to provide a simple, practical, highly effectiveheat generator, .useful forheating large areasor spaces.

There are various situations n which itis necessary or desirable toprovide heat. For example, various agricultural developments or rows oftrees occasionally require heating as a means of protection againstfrost, and in various commercial establishments there are large areasthat require occasional heating, Inthe case of agriculturalestablishments, for instance citrus groves, heaters have been used for along time with varying degrees of success, ,one type of heater beingthat which involves :a tower carrying an air circulator which is fedwith heated air from a 'burner usually located at the base of thestructure. Such apparatus or devices are not altogether practical in4that theyare generally complex and expensive to construct-and aresomewhat difficult to operate to best advantage.

lt -is a general object of the present `invention to provide a heatgenerator practical in a situation such as has been referred to andwhich is characterized by a heat generator unit which in a singleoperationdevelops heat yand a blast -or flow of heated gases, making itunnecessary to provide separate circulating means and separate burnerssuch as generally characterize apparatus of this general character.

Another object of the present invention lis to provide a heat .generatorof the general character referred to lwherein the generator unit ismounted on a platform supported -for rotation,

the platform being adjustable to operate in a plane most advantageous inthe situation where the apparatus is employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the generalcharacter referred to wherein the support that carries the generatorunit serves not only to support such unitbut also as a reservoir tocarry a supply of fuel for the unit.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide apparatus of thegeneral character referred to with a ladder permanently engaged with theunit rotatable on `the support, which ladder is such as to enable anoperator to conveniently and safely ascend to the platform that carriesthe generator unit, even while the apparatus is in operation.

The various objects and features of our .invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form .f

and application of Vthe invention, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side vView of a unit of apparatus embodying the presentinvention, certain of the parts beingshown in sectionin order toillustrate details of construction. Fig. 2 is a plan section takenin thedirection indicated by line 2 2 on Fig. l, certain of the parts beingbroken away Yto show features of construction. Fig. 3 is a plan sectiontaken as indicated by line 3--3 on Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a view taken asindicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1.

The apparatus provided by the present invention involves, generally, anupwardly projecting support A, a head B located immediately above thesupport, means C mounting the head on the support for limited universalmovement, stabilizing means D for the -head normally holding itstationary in a predetermined angular position relative to the upper endof the support A, a platform E above the head, means F-coupling the`platform and head for free rotation of the platform relative to thehead, a generator G located above the platform, mounting means Hmounting the generator .G from the platform E, fuel supply means J forthe generator, drive means K provided to operate or rotate the platformrelative to the head, a lladder L provided for reaching the platform, aninstrument and control unit M coupled with various of the operatingparts of the apparatus and various other elements and features as willappear from the following description.

The support A is carried on or fixed to a suitable base or foundationIl! so that it projects upwardly therefrom. In the case illustrated thefoundation lil is shown carried by and at the ground level N and thesupport is shown as an elongate vertically .disposed structureprojecting upwardly from the foundation,

In the preferred form of the invention the support A is a verticallydisposed reservoir or tank, and in practice it may be advantageouslyformed of a cylindrical side wall ll, a bottom I2 and a top I3, Thebottom l2 is shown as a ilat element resting on the foundation lil whilethe top I3 is shown as a spherically curved or domeshaped elementprojecting upwardly from the upper end of the cylindrical side wall l I.It will be apparent from the dra-wings that the structure just describedforms an effective reservoir or storage tank into which suitable fuelmay be filled at suitable intervals through a filling opening lll, whichis normally closed by a cap or plug.

Through this construction the apparatus of the present invention iswholly self-contained and does not require connection with a fuel supplyline or pipe and it is simple and practical to construct the support Aso that it has substantial capacity, thus enabling the apparatus to beoperated for a long period of time without requiring attention.

In the preferred form of the invention the support A formed orconstructed as above described is made fast to or is Xed on thefoundation I!) through a means such as mounting brackets I5.

The head B is located immediately above the top I3 of the support A andin the form of the invention illustrated it is a flat plate-likestructure having a central boss I6 and an annular peripheral portion I1which is in the nature of a track the portion II being concentric withthe boss I6,

rl`he means C mounting the head B on the support A is a suitablestructure serving to connect these elements for limited rela-tivemovement since it is desirable, in practice, to be able to vary thelocation or plane of the head B somewhat relative to the support A. Inthe case illustrated the means C is shown in the nature of a universaljoint construction which involves spaced lugs depending from the centralportion or boss I6 of the head, lugs I'Ia projecting upwardly from thecentral portion of the top I3 of the support A, a block I8 between thehead and support, a pivot pin I9 coupling the block to the lugs 2li, anda pivot pin 2| coupling the block I 8 to the lugs I'la on an axis atright angles to that established by the pin I8. Through thisconstruction the head is effectively secured to the support A and yet isfree to be tilted to various angular positions relative thereto, ascircumstance may require.

The stabilizing means D serves to brace the head B from the support Aand is operable to hold the head steady or rigidly in any desiredangular position relative to the support. In the form of the inventionillustrated the means D involves a plurality of circumferentially spacedrods having their lower ends joined to the upper end portion of thesupport A and having their upper ends joined to the peripheral portionof head B. It is preferred that one end of each rod be pivotally heldwhile the other end is adjustable. In the case illustrated the lower endof each rod 25 is pivotally coupled to an ear 26 projecting from thesupport A by means of a suitable pivot pin 21. The upper end of each rodextends through an ear 28 projecting from the peripheral portion of thehead B and is threaded to carry nuts 23 which may be adjusted to variouspositions along the rod and which may be clamped or set against the ear2B. From the foregoing description it will be apparent hcw theadjustability provided at the inner ends of the rods 25 enables theoperator to vary the angular` position of the head relative to thesupport and how the head is most effectively stabilized relative to thesupport when the nuts 29 are made tight against the ears 28.

The platform E is located immediately above the head B and in practiceit may be of any suitable size, form or shape, as circumstances Themeans F provided to couple the platform F E and head B joins these partsor elements so that the platform is freely rotatable relative to thehead and rotates above an axis normal to the head and concentrictherewith. In the form of the invention illustrated the means F involvesa centre pin 3| carried by the boss IB of the head and projectingupwardly therefrom and antifriction bearings 32 carried by the center ofthe platform E and engaged on the pin. It will be readily apparent thatthrough suitable design or selection of anti-friction bearings theplatform may be mounted on the head B to be supported in a mostefficient manner and yet be free to rotate relative to the head.

The means F preferably includes, in addition to the structure justdescribed, rollers 3G at the periphery of the platform so located as toengage or ride upon the annular portion or track I 'I which is at theperiphery of the head.

The generator G is located above the platform E to be carried orsupported therefrom through the means E. The generator in accordancewith the present invention is a unit in which suitable fuel is burned,for instance combined with air, in such manner as to generate aoontinuous flow or blast of hot gases and which includes means by whichthe blast of hot gases is directed in a predetermined manner.

In accordance with the broader principles of the invention any suitablefuel may be employed in the generator. However, it is preferred that thegenerator may be such as to utilize liquid fuel such as a hydrocarbon,it being convenient to store such a fuel in the support A by reason ofits construction, as above described. It it to be understood, however,that gaseous fuel may be used, in which case the support A may beconstructed to serve as a pressure vessel serving to handle a supply offuel under suitable pressure.

The particular generator G illustrated in the drawings is of the generaltype of device commonly employed to develop power, as for instance, forpropulsion where the desired propulsion is gained through jet action.The particular generator illustrated is shown somewhat diagrammaticallyin the drawing and as including a housing in which there is a rotorinvolving a compressor element 5I and a turbine wheel 52. The rotaryelement is carried on a suitable shaft 53. The compressor elementdelivers air under superatmospheric pressure to combustion chamber 54which is supplied with fuel by the means J and as combustion occurspressure is developed and the gases of combustion flow forward strikingthe turbine wheel 52 causing it to rotate and through this means therotary element is driven. The gases continue to flow and some furthercombustion occurs in chambers 56 which converge to finally deliver thehot gases into a jet tube 51 from which they issue in a predetermineddirection and in the form of a high velocity jet or blast.

Through the action of the generator G, as above described, the fuel,whether it be liquid or gaseous, is burned, and in the single operationdescribed heat is generated and a high velocity jet is generated, to theend that the heated gases are directed from the generator to now outonto or over a large area or for a considerable distance. It will beapparent that the particular area or space heated through the action ofthe generator will depend upon the manner in which the generator isfaced. Through the structure provided by the present invention thegenerator may be bodily rotated by turning or rotating the platform .andthe pla-ne which .the wratten occurs may be governed by the setting .ofthe head B relative to the support A.

The mounting means H for the generator G may, as shown in the drawings,be a simple arrangement of brackets or `standards `60 which projectupwardly from the platform E and to which the generator is secured sothat it is rigidly coupled to the platform.

The fuel supply means J may, in practice, vary somewhat depending uponthe particular fuel employed. When the support A is employed as a fuelreservoir as above described the desired supply of fuel is drawn fromthe reservoir by an .intake pipe 5| and is handled by a suitable fuelpump unit 62 so that the desired fuel is delivered through a fueldelivery line B3 to the generator G. The fuel pump unit 52 may be anelectrically operated pump unit or any suitable apparatus that willhandle the fuel in the desired manner. Since the platform E carrying thegenerator G rotates relative to the support A from which the fuel lineextends it is preferred that the pin 3l of means F and the block I8 ofmeans C be hollow or tubular, and that the fuel line 53 be passedthrough the pin and block to project upwardly therefrom. When thisconstruction is employed a suitable swivel joint 64 may be employedabove the pin in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The means K serves to drive or operate the platform E relative to thehead B and in the case illustrated it is shown as including a primemover or motor 10 driving a pinion 'H which meshes with a ring gear 72.In the arrangement shown the ring gear 'I2 is carried by the head Bconcentric with the boss or hub IS thereof, in which case the motor l0is carried by the platform E as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.The motor 'l0 may be supplied with operating current from any suitablesource. For instance, when the generator G is equipped with auxiliaryunits such as an electrical generator operated by or from shaft `53 orsome other like element current from such generator may be used to drivethe motor lil and fuel pump 62. In the drawings we have shown anelectrical supply line extending to pump B2 from the generator throughcontact rings T6 on the platform engaged by brushes 'H carried by the s.

head B.

The ladder L provided for reaching the platform E is preferably formedof spaced parallel rails 80 joined by or carrying suitable rungs orsteps 8l. In accordance with the present invention the upper ends of therails 80 are joined to the platform E preferably to the marginal orperipheral portion thereof by pivot pins 82. In the form of theinvention illustrated braces 83 are provided at the upper end portion ofthe ladder to project laterally and upwardly from the rails 80. Thebraces have their upper ends pivoted to the platform by pivot pins 84concentric with the pivot pins 82.

In accordance with the invention the lower end portion of the ladder issupported. The structure shown involves a ring 85 surrounding the lowerend portion of the support A and mounted for rotation about the supportthrough rollers B5 mounted on the exterior of the support. An armstructure 81 projects from the ring and carries guides 88 which slidablycarry rods 89 which are joined to the lower end portions of the railsand which extend parallel therewith. Through this construction theladder L operates with the 6 platform, that is, as the platform -turnsabout the support A the ladder likewise moves rabout the support, andfurthermore, as the platform is adjusted as to its angular positionrelative to the support throughadjustment of head B, the lad.-

der L is freeto raise or lower but the connection between the ladder andplatform is at all times maintained and the 'ladder vis at all timesbraced or supported ,at both ends, so that it is safe :and convenient touse.

The instrument or control unit M shownin the drawings Yis preferably anassembly of suitable control switches, valves or indicating instrumentssuch as may be necessary or incidental to other parts of the apparatusas .above described. It is preferred that the unit M be located where itis accessible to a person at theground N, in'which case it is practicalto support it from the ring or from the arm 8l' of the ring, as shown inthe drawings. It willbe apparent that suitable control .connectionsbetween units such as the gen.- erator .G and motor "i9, etc. may becarried to the unit M .through a cable or conduit 96 as.cir.. cumstancesrequire. In the case illustrated the cable 93 carrying the variousconnections is supported by a rail of the ladder.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that we have, by ourpresent invention, provided an effective, eicient, heater utilizing fuelwhether gaseous or liquid, in a most advantageous and in a very simplemanner. By directly utilizing combustion both for heat and for thegeneration of a blast carrying the heat in the desired manner we haveprovided a simple apparatus and the overall efficiency of the structureis very high. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the structureprovided by the present invention is of simple, practical form requiringa minimum number of working parts and that it is of such character as tobe easily operated and controlled. By providing the operating means Kindependent of the generator G it is possible to generate a blast of hotgases of the desired temperature to extend the desired distance from theapparatus, and such blast can be swept through any desired arc, as forinstance through 366 about the center of the structure, at any desiredrate.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of ourinvention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specicdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves anyvariations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the artand fall Within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, an upwardly extendingsupport, a generator operating to burn fuel and deliver a jet of hotgases, means supporting the generator from the support with the jetdirected in a predetermined manner from the support including, a head, auniversal coupling between the head and support, and a platform carryingthe generator and pivotally carried by the head by a centering pin androllers between the head and platform, the support being a reservoircarrying fuel for the generator, and means receiving fuel from thesupport and delivering it to the generator through the pin.

2. Apparatus of the character described including, a vertical support, aplatform rotatably and tiltably supported on the upper end of thesupport on intersecting axes, and a ladder carried by and depending fromthe platform for free 7 rotation about the support and stabilized by thelower end portion of the support.

3. Apparatus of the character described including, a vertical support, aplatform rotatably and tiltably supported on the upper end of thesupport, a ladder having its upper end pivotally connected to the upperend of the platform, and means stabilizing the lower end of the ladderfrom the lower end portion of the support including a ring rotatable onthe support and a sliding connection between the ring and ladder.

4. In apparatus of the character described, an upwardly extendingsupport, a generator operating to burn fuel and deliver a jet of hotgases,

and universal mounting means supporting the generator from the supportwith the jet directed in a predetermined manner from the support saidmeans including a stationary base member on the support and a generatorcarrier coupled to the base member to move universally relative thereto,the support being a reservoir carrying a supply of fuel for thegenerator and including a fuel line extending through said member andcarrier of the universal mounting means and adapted to deliver fuel fromsaid reservoir to said generator.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 713,911 McPartland Nov. 18, 1902 1,169,452 Atwood Jan. 25,1916 1,357,314 Cobb Nov. 2, 1920 1,571,969 Ruprecht Feb. 9, 19261,639,257 Cobb Aug. 16, 1927 1,848,398 ToWt Mar. 8, 1932 1,864,198Johnson June 21, 1932 1,993,635 Towt Mar. 5, 1935 2,041,969 Seymour May26,1936 2,231,454 Saxe Feb. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date17,345 Great Britain of '1893

